That is the question in the headlines somewhere every week, but is it really feasible? 

Just about three years ago, I found something I wanted to pursue that required commuting to New York every few weeks; an impossibility for me right now.  I wanted to attend the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to round out my culinary education and give me a new direction and a new career. 

For most that know me, I have been raising my young children for the last decade while  mentally torturing myself over what career path to take next.  I dismissed the Institute (IIN) because it wasn’t practical for me at that time. 

That all changed when they added their Distance Learning Program.  I am currently studying to become a Holistic Health Counselor, and couldn’t be more excited and focused on helping myself, my family, my friends and future clients. This career move gives me a fulfilling direction with the bonus of educating and guiding people to live in health and wellness. 

I urge anyone who has that feeling there is more out there or anyone who dreams of what they want to do when they “retire” to start searching now.  It is such a waste to put in decades of labor in a job that is unfulfilling, working for corporations that have no loyalty to their number one asset, their workforce.

What about your life now?  You deserve to enjoy what you do, and to get a good night’s sleep while doing it. Now is the best time to make that move or at least start to craft a serious plan to jump to what’s next for you.  With massive lay-offs, corporate downsizing, and the unending shift of sending our jobs overseas, very few have true job security these days.  A little more self-reliance is the ultimate career insurance plan.

Many people have dreamed of doing other things, but their circumstances make it impossible to completely change jobs or careers.  If you have an interest or a dream to do something different, take a self-study class in business basics, start your idea as a weekend hobby, make contact with like-minded individuals through groups and clubs.  Our local libraries and librarians are infinite resources in our communities, and they are already paid for through your taxes.

There are some basic questions to answer when thinking of changing careers:

    •    Do you have support at home to make a change?
    •    Will any of your current skills transfer to a different career or industry?
    •    What do you dream about doing? After you retire? After the kids are more self-sufficient?
    •    Are there any groups (professional or social) where your interests are the focus?
    •    Can you find on-line resources to help you narrow down your ideas or dreams?
    •    Can you connect with someone in a group to act as a mentor?
    •    Do you want to work for yourself or are you content with a career working for someone else?

Long gone are the days of having a stable career that will last 30 years.  It isn’t uncommon for people to move jobs or completely change careers a few times in their lifetime, some out of necessity, some out of curiosity for something new.

With follow-through, an investment in yourself will pay off in ways yet unknown.  Is your dream feasible?  Only you can answer that.

© Cheryl Bigus, 2009.